ABSTRACT
Advanced instrumentation, technology, and training strategies have continuously evolved
for identifying and monitoring noise-induced hearing loss in the workplace. For occupational
purposes, mobile audiometric testing facilities equipped with computerized audiometers
and staffed by certified technicians are used to simultaneously test multiple persons.
This occupational model of audiometric threshold testing was used as part of a clinical
project designed to assess the practicality of hearing screening for high school students.
It appears that mobile threshold audiometry in the high school population is feasible,
practical, and may be an economic approach to hearing-loss detection and monitoring
in adolescents.
KEYWORDS
Hearing screening - mobile van - school - adolescents - computerized audiometry -
audiometric technician - noise-induced hearing loss
REFERENCES
- 1
Niskar A S, Kieszak S M, Holmes A, Esteban E, Rubin C, Brody D J.
Estimated prevalence of noise-induced hearing thresholds shifts among children 6 to
19 years of age: the Third National Health And Nutrition Examination Survey, 1988-1994,
United States.
J Pediatr.
2001;
108
40-43
- 2 American National Standards Institute (ANSI) .Permissible Ambient Noise Levels for
Audiometric Test Rooms. New York, NY; Acoustical Society of America 1991 ANSI S3.1-1991
- 3
Occupational Safety and Health Administration .
Occupational Noise Exposure: Hearing Conservation Amendment; Final Rule. U.S. Department
of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Washington DC., 29 CFR 1910.95
1983.
Fed Regist.
1983;
48
9738-9785
- 4
Lankford J E, Perrone D C, Thunder T D.
Ambient noise levels in mobile audiometric testing facilities: compliance with industry
standards.
AAOHN J.
1999;
47
163-167
- 5
Mine Safety and Health Administration .
Health Standards for Occupational Noise Exposure; Final Rule. Washington DC., U.S.
Department of Labor, Mine Safety and Health Administration. 30 CFR Part 62.
Fed Regist.
1999;
64
49548-49637
- 6 Colorado Department of Education (CDE) .Fall Pupil Membership Comparisons 1985-2005. Available at: http://www.cde.state.co.us/cdereval/download/spreadsheet/2005PM/State/Comparisons1985-05.xls Accessed December 9, 2006
- 7
Meinke D K, Dice N.
Comparison of audiometric screening criteria for the identification of noise-induced
hearing loss in adolescents.
Am J Audiol.
2007;
16
5190-5202
Deanna K MeinkePh.D.
Audiology & Speech-Language Sciences, University of Northern Colorado
Campus Box 140, Greeley, CO 80639
Email: Deanna.Meinke@unco.edu